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Fans who light up the game

(FIFA.com) 20 Mar 2008

To emerge victorious from a tight encounter, all teams need
is that little bit extra. On one day, it might take the form of an
individual piece of skill, whereas on another, the hand of fate
might intervene. But often, it is the crowd that motivates the
players to dig deep and decide the destiny of a match.

On every continent you will find fans who, either through their
historic exploits or downright eccentricity, enjoy a level of fame
not dissimilar to that of their onfield heroes.
FIFA.com presents a selection of these '12th
men'.

Cometh the hour, cometh the fan. Nowhere is this more pertinent
than in Brazil, a footballing powerhouse where the beautiful game
is not just a passion but a fully-fledged religion. It scarcely
ranks as a surprise that this country is home to some of the most
charismatic supporters. And paramount among these is one Pai
Santana, a former masseur who will forever remain part of the
collective heritage at Vasco da Gama.

Before becoming one of the club's most high-profile fans,
Santana had proven to be the most esoteric of physiotherapists. To
aid his beloved team, he would commonly recite magical
incantations. Whenever Vasco prevailed, he used to cross the entire
pitch on his knees (clad completely in white) in order to give
thanks to the heavens.

Later, as he advanced in years, he supported his side from
the stands, becoming the inspiration for that most legendary of
beach soccer supporters, Bola 7, the larger than life
Seleção fan now seen on beaches the world over.

At rivals Sao Caetano, the Bengala Azul is a fans club with a
real difference. The exclusive preserve of the over-60s, this group
remains one of the most colourful and noisy of the numerous parties
which ensure a red-hot atmosphere at the Estadio Anacleto
Campanella.

Raulito or Rivermóvil?
Not far from Brazil, Argentina gives its neighbour
a good run for its money when it comes to wild and wacky football
lovers. Even at this level, the rivalry rages fiercely between the
two giants of Buenos Aires, River Plate and Boca Juniors. For the
Millonarios, Miguel Aguirre, 53, is top of the heap. For
12 years now, he has been taking to the wheel of his
Rivermóvil (a model 80 Falcon painted completely in the
club's colours, engine included...) to attend every match at
the Monumental.

But ask any of the
Xeneizes' followers and they will tell you that
Aguirre is not a patch on their most fervent fan,
La Raulito. Maria Esther by birth, this female fanatic
inspires awe as much for her difficult life (a street child who has
had spells in prison and currently resides in a psychiatric
hospital) as for her indomitable enthusiasm.

"No one has ever pushed me towards Boca. I've always
known that these colours would bring me great joy," she said.
"In 1975, a film was even made about her life by the Chilean
director Lautaro Murua.

Still down in South America,
Los Cafeteros never go anywhere without
El Colé. Sporting his condor costume in evocation of
Colombia's national symbol, this is a fan who gets up close and
personal with his beloved team, even popping up in the dressing
room to give a pep talk from time to time.

His face and wings are generally adorned with messages of
peace. Ecuador, meanwhile, sadly waved goodbye in July 2007 to one
Julio Espinoza, aged 81, alias
El Hombre de la Campana, a diehard supporter of both the
national team and Barcelona SC.

Over in Mexico,
El Gordo Ordonez has been Cruz Azul's number one fan
for 40 years, while Julio Sotelo, or
El Rayo Mayor (a reference to the nickname of rivals
Necaxa), cheered on his club in colourful style for over 60 years
before sadly passing away in 2006.

Across the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, few aficionados of
European football will not be familiar with the legendary
Manolo, el del Bombo (Manolo, with the drum). Owner of a
bar located opposite Valencia's Mestalla ground, Manolo
transports his drum wherever Valencia or the
Furia Roja play. Moreover, he has been doing so for 32
years.

"
I do what I want, when I want, which is a great luxury.
People have shown me great affection for so many years. No, I
really wouldn't change for all the tea in China."

This role hasbrought me more than my fair share of problems: my wife divorced meand I've had money worries, but it's the only life forme.

Manolo, Valencia and Spain fanatic

So widespread is Manolo's fame that the Turk Ethem
Ozenrenler, 67, a big fan of German club Borussia Monchengladbach,
even adopted the same moniker during the 1980s, when he and his
bongo drum used to spur on Toni Polster and Co.

Granny powerAt the heart of sunny Andalusia, Concha,
La abuela del Betis (The Grandmother of Betis), has been
roaring on Real Betis for decades. With her outspoken approach and
strong Southern accent, this grandmother invariably has journalists
in her thrall when she turns up at the stadium in her green and
white gear.

French granny Lolette, however, prefers a fetching navy blue and
white outfit, for she is a fan of Bordeaux. In fact, she has not
missed one of her team's matches since 1962, as she confirmed
readiy to
FIFA.com. "Today is a matchday. I don't
have time to stand around here. I've got to get off to the
stadium.

"I'll never forget the Aime Jacquet-Claude Bez
period in the 1980s. Our team included Alain Giresse, Jean Tigana,
Rene Girard... One of the finest matches I've ever seen was the
Bordeaux-Juventus European Cup tie in 1985 (2-0 to
Bordeaux)."

Like any self-respecting grandmother, Lolotte is firm but fair
with her little ones. "When they play like twits, I give them
a mouthful. But they just laugh, so I don't think they're
that bothered."

What is more, such devotion does not go unrequited, as three
years ago, in honour of her 70th birthday, some of the Bordeaux
players clubbed together to offer her three days in Madrid at the
time of the
clásico between Real and Barcelona.

The idea was to afford her a rare chance to see a former
member of her brood who had gone on to become a megastar since
flying the nest in Le Haillan: a certain Zinedine Zidane. "

"It's the only one I've had framed to display in
my flat." The only one out of a collection of almost 60 shirts
and some 5,000 autographs.

I got the chance to meet him after the game and asked him for hisshirt, but he'd already given it to someone. But a week later,he sent me another one, signed.

Bordeaux fan Lolette on asking Zinedine Zidane for his shirt

Finally, no tour of football's most unusual fans would be
complete without taking a peek into the cradle of the modern game,
England. Although sometimes vilified, English supporters are often
the most extreme in their commitment.

One such obsessive is Paul Gregory, a fan of Sheffield
Wednesday better known as Tango Man. Having come to prominence
during the 1990s courtesy of his giant orange hand, he thinks
nothing of braving the chill of winter to wave on his heroes -
usually bare-chested. He is now firmly established as the
figurehead of the most raucous band of Wednesday supporters,
accompanied by his doppelganger, albeit a few kilos lighter and
appropriately dubbed Diet Tango Man.

Without supporters, a team is next to nothing. But with the fans
on their side, they can scale giddy heights. So whether eccentric
or excitable, quiet or quirky, every last one is like gold
dust.